Roma starlet Cengiz Under has revealed that Mohamed Salah joining Liverpool played an important role in his decision to join the Serie A outfit at the expense of Manchester City.
Under said that City made an offer which he ended up turning down in favor of Roma.
The Turkey international stated that after Liverpool snapped up Roma a space opened up for him in the team.
“I received an offer from Manchester City, but I did not agree,” he told Spor Arena. “There was the project in Rome, and the attitude of the club and the coach was important to me.
“Then, with the sale of Salah, the team has become more suited to my characteristics.”
Turkish-Football reported the City offer at the time and that the Manchester based outfit wanted to sign him as a future investment.
Under would have been loaned out to Bundesliga outfit Freiburg where he would have joined his former Altinordu teammate Caglar Soyuncu.
See More: Was Cengiz Under Right To Pick Roma Over Man City?
City’s efforts were inadvertently scuppered by Liverpool signing Salah.
Under underlined that Roma sporting director Monchi played a key role in convincing him to join.
“Monchi is a very important name and has always had a lot of confidence in me and I feel it. He says I can become an important player for the future of Rome, important in discipline and tactical work,” he added.
“Di Francesco gives all players a chance, trusts them and keeps on encouraging them. He always wants the best in training and we have a good relationship “.
“The biggest problem was the language, now things are better and I’m more sociable.
“One day I got out of the shower after training and Monchi told me that I had to meet someone. I went and it turned out to be Francesco Totti! I was very excited, but I feel unlucky not to have played with him.”
The 20-year-old winger has six goals and an assist for the Gialorossi this season.
Under will miss the Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie against Barcelona due to injury.
